Wire stripper



Aug. 14, 1951 v Filed Nov. 19, 1945 R. D. BECK WIRE STRIPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ike/622507 Aug. 14, 1951 R. D. BECK 2,563,911

WIRE STRIPPER Filed. Nov. 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I220??? for fid/awdjai? Zea 1951 R. D. BECK 2,563,911

WIRE STRIPPER Filed Nov. 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 wai Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRIPPEE.

Roland DeanBeck, Sycamore, IIL', assignor; by-

mesne assignments; to Ideal Industries; Inc

Sycamore, Ill.,. a". corppration of: Delaware Application N 'oizember. 19, 1945, Serial No. 629385.

7 Clainisr (01. 81-9251) Thisinvention relates to a wire stripper: and has. for one objectto provide strong and power.-' ful' wire stripping means which can be used in stripping insulation from wires by a straight pull.

Another object is to. provide an adjustable wire stripper suitable. for stripping insulation from wiresof several difierent diameters.

A still further object. is to provide a so-called bench type wire. stripper arranged preferably for permanent installationon a bench or other support.

Another. object. to. provide. a. wire stripper. in whichwire oidifierent. diameters may be. dropped into an openingand in which grippingjaws. are moved to. engage thewire. whatever. its diameter.

Other obj ectswill appear from timetotimein the spcificationand claims..

The. invention. is. illustratedmore or. less diae grammatically. in the accompanying drawings; wherein:v

Figure. 1 is a top. p1an..view of oneform: of. the device.

Figure 2 is. anend elevation with. parts broken away.

Figure-3 is-a bottom plan view of. the deviceas shownin Figure 1..

Figure. 4 is.afragmentary top plan view of. a portionpf. Figure 1 showing the-partsin a differentposition,

Figure. 5 is a fragmentary bottom planviewbasedon the showing of. Figure. 3,.but..with. the parts .-in..a difierent. position.

Figure. 6 is. a longitudinal. vertical. section taken atlline 6-6 of. Figure. 2..

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectionlrtaken atdine 'l. l ofsFigure 1;.

Figure 8.. is. a vertical. sectional detail. taken .on anenlarged scale atline. 8 8. of Figurefigs Figure 9 is a side. elevation .of. one formoistripgpin'gblade; and

Figure 10 isia section taken at line .lil'lfl of Figure" 9'.

Like "parts are indicated bylike characters throughout the specification and drawings;

As shown in the figures, the'device-comprises a base member designated generally by=thenumeral' I. This base member, asshown in the figures, comprises side parts which are-not sepa ratelynumbered and it may have portions 2 perforated asat 3 for attachment to a'bench; The base I is=preferably formedintegrally and may be a "casting. or" may be otherwise made. However itis made, it'is formed withsuitabl'e partsor members to receive and support "thevari ous' parts of the stripperassembly.

The base includestrack-forming"members -'4, upon which a slide plate 5' is-mounte'd to move. The plate is" held in position on the tracks 4' by members 6 whichmay be removably held' in place by screws I; or otherwise: The slide plate is pivoted as at 5 upon one'or' more supporting members It; which are attached to orform part of thebase I.

A spring H. is attached to" the leyerii. at one end as at l2;.and.at. itsother end it is attached." to a portion [-3 offith'e base as at" [4. The'lever may, if desired; be provided at its free end with; a handle portion l5. Thelever 8 in the particular form here shown is provided with an enlarge ment 16, which is provided in its upper surface with a slot H; as shown particularly in Figure 6.

A stud It is fixed in the slide plate 5, and projects into the slot IT. It may, if'desired, be positioned about the. bushing I9 to. reduce friction.

Theslide plate ismovedback and forth. along thetracks 4 by movement oftheil'ever. 8, which ma project. through a slot. 2!], formed. in one. of. the. sides of the. base. .1. Thespring. H. is biased" to move the lever B to the extreme forward or. in.- active position as: showninl iigure 1. Pivotally mounted on the slide plate 5 isa pair of' jaw members 2!, 2|. These members are supported forrotation upon screws. 22,22. which are fixed in and. preferablyprojectthrough the slide plate 5. Eachjaw member Zl is provided with an eccentrically curved and preferably roughened face 23.

The slide plate 5 isprovided beneatheachof the jaw members 2| with an arcuate slot 24.- Through each-of'these slots projects a pin 25. As shown particularlyin. Figures-5. and 7, springs 26 arepositioned one..about.the. lower end of each of the screws 22. Oneendrof. each springv is secured to. a pinLZJ. on theslideplate, and theop posite endof eachspringjssecured to. one; of the pins25. I

The springs 26 are biased-to. hold thepins 25 intthe-position-.shown. in.Fig,ure 5, and thus to carry theijawsr I toward-the dotted-line position of Figurewl, andthusto'carry thejaws into en.- gagemen-t WlthfifiChDthBl i1"- I10. wireis present; onto. carry the. jawsiintozenga'gement .withta wire if one. is: present .betweenthem.

The pins 25 preferably. have mounted toward their lower ends rollers or contact members 28 which are held in placeby pins 29.

3ll'i's a contact member or abutment mounted on the base I, and arranged to contact the pins 25 or the rollers 28 when the slide plate 5; is moved to the extreme forward position. This condition is shownin Figure 3, andinthat position, whichcorrespondsto. theposition of Figure 4,. thepinslhave beenmovedto the lower ends of the-slots Z4,.and-thusthejaws. 2 have been rotated asfar aslpossible-away from each other.

The-mechanism thus. far described comprises the base, 'thezslidelplate, .themeans for'moving it, the jaws oirthezslide'plate; and the means;-for.ro.+ tatingsth'eml; Tha wiresstrippingblades and-.the

means for operating and controlling them will now be described.

3| is a portion of the base or a member attached to the base. Journaled in that member are two shafts 32, 32. These shafts are provided with slotted enlargements 33 adjacent the upper ends, screws 34, are positioned one in each of the enlargements 33. Blades 35 are removably and adjustably positioned in the slots of the enlargements 33 and are held in place by the screws 34.

As shown generally in Figure 1 and in detail in Figures 9 and 10 the stripping blades 35 are preferably beveled as at 36, and may be notched as at 31.

At their lower ends, each of the shafts 32 is slotted and is arranged to receive a set screw 38. Operating members 39 are positioned one in each of the shafts 32 and held in place by the set screws 38. These operating members are shown in Figures 3 and 8 particularly. They are arranged to be struck and moved by a contact member or abutment M, which is carried on a piece 4| which is itself held to the slide plate 5 by screws 42. As shown in Figure 6 the piece AI is cut away to provide clearance with respect to parts which it would otherwise contact.

When the slide plate is moved to the position of Figures 3 and 4 in which the jaws 2| have been rotated away from each other, the member 43 has struck the operating members 39 and r0- tated the shafts 32, thus moving the members 33 away from each other and correspondingly moving the stripping blades away from each other. In this position the parts are ready to receive a wire.

Means may be provided for giving the shafts 32 a counter-rotation. As shown, this comprises a plunger 43 having an enlarged head 44 arranged to contact the operating members 39, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 6. The plunger is mounted in a socket 65, fixed to the base portions III and is urged outwardly by a spring 45.

It is convenient to provide means for adjusting the length of the portion of insulation which is to be cut off. For this purpose, an adjustable stop is provided. As shown, this comprises a stop member 41 having an extended head 48 and a portion 49 shaped to fit upon a rod 50. This rod may be of any desired length and is set in the portion SI of the base I. A set screw 5| pro- Vides means for adjustably fixing the stop member at any point chosen on the length of the rod or supporting member 50.

If desired, a centering means may be provided for centering wires. This includes a notched or V-shaped member 52 which appears in plan in Figure 1, in section in Figure 6 and in dotted line in Figure 7. This member is secured to a shaft or pin 53 which fits within a socket portion 54 formed in the part SI of the base I. A set screw 55 is provided to secure it at adjusted height.

An insulated wire 56 is shown in the device and a section 51 of the insulation is shown as being severed.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

The device is secured or placed upon a suitable support which may conveniently be a work bench. When not in use, the spring I I tends to move the lever 8 and with it the slide plate 5 to substantially the position indicated in Figure 3. In that position, the blades 35 are as shown in Figure 4.

When the device is to be used for stripping purposes, if the spring I I has not moved the slide to the position of Figure 3, the handle 8 is moved toward that end of the base upon which the blades are supported. The plate 5 is thus moved, either by the spring I I or by the handle, from the position of Figure 1 toward the position of Figure 3, or as far as it can go in that direction. As this movement occurs, the member 40 contacts the operating members 39 and moves them and the shafts 32 to which they are fixed to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. Thus the blades are moved apart to their maximum point of separation.

At the same time, the pins 25 are contacted by the member 30 and are moved to the bottom of the slots 24 into the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. Since the pins 25 are fixed one to each of the jaw members 2|, this movement of the pins carries the jaws to the position shown in Figure 4. This is the position of maximum separation of the jaw faces and the apparatus is in position to receive a wire.

The wire is moved with its end against the stop face 48 and is laid between the blades 35 and the jaws 2i in the notch or center of the centering member 52. The lever 3 is now moved in the reverse direction away from that portion of base I which supports the blades.

As this occurs, the jaws ZI are moved by the springs 26 into contact with the wire which they grip as shown in the full line position of Figure 1. This movement of the jaws is caused by the springs 26 in the initial stage of movement of the slide plate 5. As the slide plate 5 moves away, the pins 25 are no longer held, by the part 30, in the inner ends of the grooves 24 and, hence, the springs 26 are free to move the jaws into engagement with the wire 56. Movement of the slide plate in the same direction merely serves to cause the jaws 2| to grip the wire more firmly.

As this movement has been occurring the blades 35 are moved by the movement of the shafts 32 under the influence of the spring 46 and they are brought into contact with the wire and they sever the portion 51 of the insulation which lies between the blades and the stop 48.

At the stage of the operation shown in Figure 1,

' tion of severing and stripping the insulation from the wire has been completed.

A reverse movement of the slide plate causes the operations above described to take place again in reverse order, and when the jaws have been brought again to the position of Figure 4 or to approximately that position, the wire is no longer gripped by them and may be removed.

The cycle of operations above described is carried out as often as it is necessary to strip insulation from a wire.

I claim:

1. In combination in a wire stripper, a base, a slide mounted to move therealong, a handle mounted on said base and engaging said slide, a. spring connected to said base and to said handle, and biased to move the slide and handle toward inactive position, a pair of cooperating wire gripping means pivoted on said slide, springs biased to move said means toward each other into wire gripping position, an abutment member on said base positioned when the slide is in one position to contact and to move said wire gripping means apart, and a pair of pivoted cooperating wire stripping blades pivotally mounted on said base, means biased to move said blades into stripping position, a member on said slide positioned when the slide is in said position to contact and to move said blades apart, said blade moving member and said gripping means abutment being so dimensioned that in the same position of the slide thewire gripping means and the blades are both separated for the reception of a wire to be stripped.

2. In combination in a wire stripper, a base, a slide mounted to move therealong, a handle pivotally mounted on said base and engaging said slide, a spring connected to said base and to said handle, and biased to move the slide and handle toward inactive position, a pair of cooperating wire gripping means pivoted on said slide, springs biased to move said means toward each other into wire gripping position, an abutment member on said base positioned when the slide is in one position to move said wire gripping means apart, and a pair of pivoted cooperating wire strippingblades pivotally mounted on said base, means biased to move said blades into stripping position, a member on said slide positioned when the slide is in said position to contact and to move said blades apart, said blade moving member and said gripping means abutment being so coordinated that in the same position of the slide the wire gripping means and the blades are both separated for the reception of a wire to be stripped.

3. In combination in a wire stripper, a base, a slide mounted to move therealong, a handle mounted on said base and movably engaging said slide, a spring connected to said base and to said handle, and biased to move the slide and handle toward a position of rest, a pair of cooperating wire gripping means pivoted on said slide, springs biased to move said means toward each other pivotally mounted on said base and movably engaging said slide, a spring connected to said base and to said handle, and biased to move the slide and handle toward a position of rest, a pair of cooperating wire gripping means pivoted on said slide, springs biased to move said means toward each other into wire gripping position, an abutment member on said base positioned when the slide is in one position to move said wire gripping means apart, and a pair of pivoted cooperating wire stripping blades pivotally mounted on said base, means biased to move said blades into stripping position, a member on said slide positioned when the slide is in said position to contact and to move said blades apart, said blade moving member and said gripping means abutment being so dimensioned that in the same position of the slide the wire gripping means and the blades are both separated for the reception of a wire to be stripped, said wire gripping means moving member and said blade moving member being effecinto wire gripping position, an abutment member on said base positioned when the slide is in one position to move said wire gripping means apart, and a pair of pivoted cooperating wire stripping blades pivotally mounted' on said base, means biased to move said blades into stripping position, a member on said slide positioned when the slide is in said position to contact and to move said blades apart, said blade moving member and said gripping means abutment being so dimensioned that in the same position of the slide the wire gripping means and the blades are both separated for the reception of a wire to be stripped.

4. In combination in a wire stripper, a base, a slide mounted to move therealong, a handle pivotally mounted on said base and movably engaging said slide, a spring connected to said base and to said handle, and biased to move the slide and handle toward a position of rest, a pair of cooperating wire gripping means pivoted on said slide, springs biased to move said means toward each other into wire gripping position, an abutment member on said base positioned when the slide is in one position to move said wire gripping means apart, and a pair of pivoted cooperating wire stripping blades pivotally mounted on said base, means biased to move said blades into stripping position, a member on said slide positioned when the slide is in said position to contact and to move said blades apart, said blade moving member and said gripping means abutment being so dimensioned that in the same position of the slide the wire gripping means and the blades are both separated for the reception of a wire to be stripped.

5. In combination in a wire stripper, a base, a slide mounted to move therealong, a handle tive only when the slide is in the position of rest.

6. In combination a wire stripper, a base, a pair of insulation-cutting blades carried from the said base, rotary supports for said blades pivoted on said base, a slide mounted for sliding movement with respect to said base, a pair of identically shaped wire gripping members mounted for rotation on said slide, said wire gripping members being provided with opposed faces eccentric to their points of rotation, spring means biased to urge said gripping members together, an abutment fixed on said base and positioned to contact parts of said gripping members and to move them in opposition to said springs, and an abutment member on said slide, positioned to contact the supports for said stripping blades and to move said blades apart.

7. In combination in a wire stripper, a base member, guides thereon, a slide mounted in said guides for sliding movement, a handle supported on said base, and means connecting said handle movably to said slide, a member biased to move said slide and handle in one direction, a pair of wire gripping members mounted on said slide for rotation, and means carried on said slide biased to move said gripping members toward each other for gripping, operating parts secured to said gripping members, an abutment fixed on said base and positioned to engage said operating parts, and in one position of the slide to move said gripping members apart, a pair of supporting members mounted for movement on said base, cooperating stripping members carried by said supporting members, means biased to move said supporting members to carry said stripping members into stripping position, a member carried by said slide and adapted in one position of said slide to contact and move said supporting members and thus to carry said stripping members apart.

ROLAND DEAN BECK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,666,277 White Apr. 17, 1928 1,753,561 Emmert Apr. 8, 1930 1,902,742 Wentink Mar. 21, 1933 2,285,167 Montgomery June 2, 1942 2,338,508 Hackbarth Jan. 4, 1944 2,395,374 Lembitz Feb. 19, 1946 

